Markdown editors and converters compared
There are many ways to get text into Markdown. Each one is good at something and leaves a gap somewhere else. Here is a plain comparison, checked in November 2026, and the problems RichMarkdown was built to solve.
At a glance
| Tool | What it is | Price | Install / account | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RichMarkdown | Visual web editor + converter | Free | Neither | Paste from Docs/Word cleaned; .docx images exported as files; Obsidian style; English and Chinese |
| StackEdit | Web Markdown editor (split view) | Free | Account optional (for sync) | Syncs to Drive, Dropbox, GitHub. Last release May 2023 |
| Dillinger | Web Markdown editor (split view) | Free | Neither | Actively developed; exports HTML and PDF; cloud sync |
| Typora | Desktop visual Markdown editor | $14.99, 3 devices | Install | Excellent editor; math, diagrams, many export formats |
| HackMD | Collaborative web editor (split view) | Free; Prime $5 per seat/month | Account | Real-time collaboration; PDF export is Prime only |
| word2md.com | .docx → Markdown converter | Free, open source | Neither | Runs in the browser; zip with images; .docx only, no editing |
| Docs to Markdown add-on | Google Docs add-on | Free (Pro has paid features) | Add-on + Google permissions | Images become placeholders; tables come out as HTML |
| Google Docs “Download as Markdown” | Built into Google Docs | Free | Google account | Images are embedded as long base64 text inside the .md |
| CloudConvert / Aspose | Upload-and-convert sites | Free tiers with limits | Files are uploaded | CloudConvert: 10 free conversions a day. Aspose keeps files for 24 hours |
Problems they leave unsolved — and what RichMarkdown does
“Google Docs' .md file is huge and the images don't show”
Google's own export puts every image at the end of the file as base64 text, so a few photos can make a multi-megabyte .md that many apps can't display. Open that .md in RichMarkdown and click Export .md: you get a .zip with a clean .md and the images as real files in an images/ folder.
“My Word images disappeared” or “I can't upload company documents”
Upload converters send your file to a server; the Docs add-on leaves image placeholders. RichMarkdown opens the .docx inside your browser and exports the images next to the Markdown. No upload, no daily limit, nothing to install.
“I want to fix things before I save”
Converters are one-shot: file in, file out. RichMarkdown is an editor first — paste, tidy up in a Word-like page, check the export checklist, then export.
“I need Obsidian syntax”
Converters produce standard Markdown only. RichMarkdown also exports ==highlights==, callouts, [[wikilinks]] and properties, and reads them back. See RichMarkdown vs Obsidian.
“I want a visual editor in the browser, free and without ads”
StackEdit and Dillinger show Markdown source next to a preview; Typora is visual but a paid desktop app. RichMarkdown is visual, free, has no ads and needs no sign-up.
“I need the opposite: Markdown into Word”
Paste Markdown or an AI answer and use Copy for Word / Google Docs. See ChatGPT to Word.
When another tool is the better choice
- Writing together in real time: HackMD.
- Math, diagrams and a desktop app that works offline: Typora.
- Converting hundreds of files, footnotes and citations: Pandoc.
- The same notes on several devices: a tool with sync, such as Obsidian or StackEdit.
FAQ
Is RichMarkdown really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no ads, no limits. It is built and run by the team behind RichTextEditor.
Where are my documents stored?
Only in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, so export files you want to keep.
How were these tools checked?
From each product’s own website, pricing page, store listing or code repository in November 2026. Prices and features change; check the vendor before you buy.